Pig brooder



April 1942- J. L. BARRAGY 2,280,779

PIG BROODER Filed March 11, 1941 2 SheetsSheet l John L. Barragy wlmess I 1 51+ wmoeg April 1942- J. L. BARRAGY 2,280,779

PIG BROODER Filed March 11, 1941 2 sheets sheet 2 John La Barragg Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE PIG BROODEB John L. Barragy, Rockwell, Iowa Application March 11, 1941, Serial No. 382,825

5 Claims.

The .invention aims to provide a new and improved brooder construction for young pigs, the breeder being well heated to keep the pigs warm and comfortable, being well drained to prevent the bedding from remaining soaked, and being provided with novel means for attracting the young pigs to cause them to enter the breeder at night.

With the foregoing and minor objects in view,

- the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereon.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the casing bottom.

A preferred construction has been illustrated and will be rather specifically described, with the understanding, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

Three metal side bars I are welded or otherwise secured together to provide a horizontal base frame ll, within the confines of which an electric heating element i2 is suitably mounted. The frame II is preferably in' the form of a right angle triangle to fit in the corner of a room or building. Welded or otherwise secured to the corners of the base frame II and rising rigidly therefrom, are three corner posts I3 to which a horizontal top frame I4 is welded or otherwise secured, said top frame being formed from separate metal side bars I 5 welded or otherwise connected with each other. A metal floor plate l6 rests upon the base frame II and is provided with downturned flanges H at the outer sides of the side bars Ill. The floor plate I6 is formed with slots l8 through which the corner posts l3 extend, and said floor is provided around each slot with a guard flange l9 which prevents urine from running through the slots into the space below the floor plate. A bottom plate 20 is disposed under the base frame I l and is provided with upstanding flanges 2| which are preferably interposed between the flanges I1 and the base side bars Ill, said side bars, said bottom plate 20 and the floor plate 16 cooperating in forming a chamber for the electric heating element 12, so that said heating element will eifectively heat the floor IS.

A metal top 22 rests upon the top frame l4 and is provided with three side walls, two of which are. denoted at 23 and the other at 23'. The walls 23 extend downwardly into overlapped relation with the flanges ll of the floor plate l6, and suitable screws 24 pass through openings in said walls 23, said flanges H, the flanges 2|, and are threaded in openings in the base side bars ID. The third wall 23 is spaced upwardly from the floor plate I 6, leaving an opening through which the small 'pigs may enter and leave the brooder. The flanges l1 and 2| directly under under this wall 23', are fastened to the base II by screws 24.

The circuit for the electric heating element I2 includes a thermostatic switch 25 mounted on one of the comer posts I3, said thermostatic switch being provided with adjusting means 26 accessible through an opening 21 in the casing top 22, so thatthe temperature to which the heating element will heat the fioor and the interior of the casing, may be changed at will, for instance, according to weather conditions.

The thermostatic switch 25 is mounted in what I will term the rear corner ofthe brooder. Also mounted in this corner is an illuminating device 28 which is preferably a red electric light bulb. The light from the bulb attracts the small pigs into the brooder at night.

A vertical guard wall 29 is secured to the floor plate l6 and rises rigidly therefrom, said guard wall extending substantially across the rear corner of the casing and preventing the pigs from reaching the bulb 28 or the switch 25. The ends of this wall preferably terminate in inwardly spaced relation with the adjacent side walls of the casing, and the upper edge of said wall is preferably spaced downwardly from the casing top 22, thus permitting the warm air within the casing to circulate and reach the thermostatic switch 25, and also enabling the young pigs to see the glow from the bulb 28 at a number of places. An opening 30 is also by preference formed in the wall 29 for air-conducting and light-viewing purposes.

The wiring for the heating element l2 and the bulb 28 may be of any adequate arrangement. It preferably includes a suitable connection ill on the casing top, into which another connection on an electrical service cord may be plugged.

In order that any urine may readily drain from the floor l6, said floor is included toward the entrance and exit opening 0. This inclination is preferably effected by having the rear post iii of the frame structure project downwardly below the base frame II to provide a foot l3. This foot rests upon the bottom plate 20 and the latter rests upon the floor or the like of the building in which the brooder is used. the result being that the floor plate I6 inclines in the proper direction.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that a simple, inexpensive and eflicient construction has been provided and that said construction will be advantageous from numerous standpoints. Attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A pig brooder comprising side bars secured together to form a horizontal base frame, corner posts secured to the corners of said base frame and rising therefrom, a floor plate resting on said side bars and having downturned flanges at the outer sides thereof, additional side bars secured together to form a horizontal top frame corresponding in shape to said base frame, said top frame being secured to said corner posts, a top plate resting on said top frame, and side walls secured to the edges of said top plate and extending downwardly therefrom, all but one of said side walls being in overlapping relation with the subjacent flanges of said floor plate, said one of said sidewalls being upwardly spaced from said floor plate to allow the pigs to enter and leave.

2. A pig brooder comprising side bars secured together to form a horizontal base frame, corner posts secured to the corners of said base frame and rising therefrom, a floor plate resting on said side bars and having downturned flanges at the outer sides thereof, a bottom plate underlying said side bars and having upturned flanges in overlapped relation with said downturned flanges of said floor, said bottom plate cooperating with said side bars and floor plate in forming a chamber to receive heating means, additional side bars secured together to form a top frame corresponding in shape to said base frame, said top frame being secured to said corner posts, a top plate resting on said top frame, and side walls secured to the edges of said top plate and extending downwardly therefrom, all but one of said side walls being in overlapping relation with the aforesaid flanges, said one of said side walls being spaced above said floor plate to allow the pigs to enter and leave.

3. A structure as specified in claim 2; together with screws extending through said flanges of said floor and bottom plates and threaded into said side .bars of said base frame, some of said screws extending also through said side walls with the exception of said one of said side walls.

4. In a big brooder, side bars secured together to form a base frame, heating means within the confines of said base frame, top-supporting posts secured to and rising from said base frame, a floor plate resting on said base frame and having slots through which said posts extend, and guard flanges rising from said floor plate around said slots to prevent urine from running therethrough to said heating means.

5. In a pig brooder, a casing having a floor, a top, side walls, an internal corner, and an opening through which the pigs may enter and leave, an illuminating device in said corner and effective to attract the pigs into said casing at night, heating means for said casing having a controlling therrnostat in said corner, and a guard wall for said illuminating device and said thermostat, said guard wall being secured to said floor and extending substantially across said corner in front of said illuminating device and said thermostat, said guard wall having its ends spaced from said side walls and its upper edge spaced from said top to allow the warm air to reach the thermostat, said guard wall having an opening located to allow the pigs to see the light from said illuminating device.

JOHN L. BARRAGY. 

